back to school

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Gather some families together and have a ‘Back to School Prayer Party!’ where you pray for kids? (By the way, make sure you say in advance what you’re inviting them to - no bait and switch!!)

Invite the families that you know, have snacks, and then gather people for 10-15 minutes to pray for all of the kids. Go around and ask each child what they would like prayer for, and then invite anyone who to say a quick prayer. 

Say something like this, “Let’s take a few minutes to pray about some of these prayer requests we’ve just heard. So perhaps 3 or 4 people - adults or kids - could jump in with a nice, short, loud prayer, that we can all say ‘Amen’ to. And in a couple of minutes I’ll close us up. Perhaps Katie could start us off…” That way everyone knows what to expect, and they are reassured that you aren’t planning on trapping them there for hours!

TIP: Arrange for someone who is a believer to do the first prayer - and make sure they keep it simple (20 seconds-ish), simple, and very easy for others to imitate.

We did this for our neighbors several years ago and it was a huge hit! And it was AMAZING who opened their mouths to pray out loud.

By the way, this is fabulous to do with neighbors who don’t usually go to a church. After all, you’ve got to be a pretty militant atheist not to want a bit of divine protection and support for your kids as they board that big scary yellow bus!

Make the time to go for a prayer walk around a school (or several schools) in your area. If you have children or grandchildren then take them with you and ask what they think you should be praying for.

Use the below prompts as a starting point, but also ask the Lord to highlight specific issues or people to pray for as you do so. Whenever you pass the school in the following weeks remember those prayers and bring them before the Lord again.

Take this prayer guide with you and walk (or drive) around the outside of the school campus you have chosen to cover in prayer. You can of course pray these same things from home! 

Use this guide and these Scriptures as a springboard as the Holy Spirit prompts you to pray.

Pray for…

• Teachers
  • They would be given both strength and wisdom.
    • “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
  • God to give teachers insight into the giftings and destiny of each student.
    • “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (Jeremiah 1:5)
    • “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
• Students
  • Would be protected
    • “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)
  • For the young followers of Christ to walk in boldness and the gifts of the Holy Spirit
    • “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)
  • Would experience no fear
    • “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6)
• Staff including teachers, administration, support staff, etc.
  • There would be unity of heart, mind and purpose amongst staff members
    • “Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 14b-15)
• Families
  • There would be peace, love, compassion, and forgiveness in each family
    • “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)

(We’re grateful to Dana Cochran and Long Beach Church Collective for permission to use the prayer guide above.)

1.  Ask Jesus to show you which schools, students, and staff He’d like you to be praying for.

2.  When can you prayer walk around that school?

3. Can you organize, or partner with someone to organize, a Back to School Prayer Party?